The Utah State Tax Commission recently released gross taxable sales figures for fourth quarter 2011. Four of the five counties in the southwestern corner of Utah ended 2011 with a year-to-year increase in sales. Beaver County stood as the lone county to display sales losses. At face value, the decline appears alarmingly large--almost 30 percent. However, business expenditures in the utilities and wholesale trade industries accounted for a huge one-project increase in 2010. In other words, the current losses are more a reflection of the previous year's anomalous increase than any real contraction of sales (or the economy).
Washington County's improving employment situation is reflected in a notable 10 percent year-over increase in gross taxable sales during the fourth quarter. While most retail and service industries showed strong gains, general merchandise stores (such as Target and WalMart) and car sales displayed the strongest dollar improvements. This marked the fourth straight quarter of improving gross taxable sales for Washington County.
Although Iron County's employment gains proved tepid in the fourth quarter of 2011, sales were also up by 10 percent on a year-to-year basis. Iron County's greatest dollar gains occurred in motor vehicle sales and eating/drinking places.
Kane County exhibited a healthy 7-percent increase in sales during the fourth quarter of 2011--the third straight quarter of robust growth. The current gain reflects a notable increase in manufacturing expenditures along with strong gains in car and hotel/lodging sales.
Garfield County's fourth quarter 2011 sales grew by nearly 3 percent falling in the shadow of a third quarter decline. Compared to a year earlier, sales in most industries actually contracted. However, sales at hotels/lodging places increased sufficiently to more than offset other losses.
To access the Tax Commission's sales tax data, click here.
